VESTAL, N.Y. -- Senior outfielder Chloe Morgan went 3-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs, leading No. 4 Binghamton (21-21) to a 5-3 win over No. 5 Hartford (16-31) in an America East Tournament game on Wednesday afternoon at the Bearcats Sports Complex. With the victory, the Bearcats advance to a second-round matchup against top-seeded UMBC on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Morgan, whose three-hits tied her career high, capped a three-run bottom of the sixth inning that propelled the Bearcats to the come-from-behind win. Binghamton entered the frame down 3-2 but freshman outfielder Alayna Harbaugh tied the game by drawing a based-loaded walk. Morgan then followed with a two-run single that put the Bearcats ahead to stay.

The Bearcats were down 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning but senior pitcher Sophia Pappas did not allow a run over the 4.0 innings in a relief role. She struck out a career-high six batters and improved her record to 3-1.

"We play well under pressure and I think that showed today," head coach Jess Bump said. "So when we get down, we know we have the ability to come back and score runs. I was also super proud of Sophia Pappas who pitched very well today. Today was a good first start of the tournament for us."

The Hawks used the long ball to build their early 3-0 lead. Following an RBI single by Jordan Nastos in the top of the first inning, they got solo home runs by Haley Cassidy (third inning) and Julianna Kocenski (fourth inning).

The Bearcats trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman outfielder Sarah Rende drove in the first run on a sacrifice fly and senior infielder Makayla Alvarez followed with an RBI double.

Binghamton left the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning but that set the stage for its comeback one inning later.

Kocenski, who was the starting pitcher and went 5.2 innings, was tagged with the loss and is now 9-15. Only two of her runs, however, were earned.

NOTES: Morgan now has four three-hit performances during her career … Pappas, Alvarez and Morgan all played in Binghamton's most recent America East Tournament appearance (2019).